Australia is one of the world’s most efficient producers of cattle and the world’s second largest exporter of beef. The off-farm meat value of Australia’s beef industry is $12.1b. Domestic expenditure on beef is estimated at $6.4b (2009).
Northern beef situation analysis
Northern beef has been a strong performer among broad acre agricultural enterprises in recent years.
MLA along with its partners has conducted a number of situation analysis to inform its RD&E investment and activities over the period 2000 - present. These have provided the analytical platform and value proposition for a series of industry awareness campaigns and flagship programs eg More Beef from Pastures.
The present analysis will assist in formulating strategies for future investment into the northern beef region. This information will form part of a broader strategy to establish and monitor baseline data about the economic, environmental and social performance and attributes of the northern beef industry.
National herd
• Australia’s national cattle herd stands at 27.9m head (*)
• 59, 893 properties with cattle (*) 12.9m beef cows and heifers (*) The beef industry accounts for 44% of all farms with agricultural activity (*)
• The total area operated by farms with beef cattle is around 332m ha (75% of all agricultural area)
• The beef industry employs 121,000 workers
Production
• Australia produced around 2.1m tonnes of beef and veal in 2009 (**)
• 2.33m grainfed cattle were marketed in 2009 (30% of all adult cattle slaughtered) The value of Australian cattle and calf production (including live export) is approximately $8b (*)
• Cattle contributed 18% of the total farm value of $45b in 2008-09
• The direct contribution of beef and live cattle to gross domestic product is approximately 1%
• Queensland is the biggest producer of beef and veal
• Australia has 2.8% of the world cattle inventory and is the 8th biggest beef producer Australia produce’s 4% of the world’s beef supply
Consumption
• Australians ate around 33.7kg per person in 2009
• Around 81% of Australian fresh meat buyers purchase beef and veal Beef is the most popular fresh meat at retail in Australia
Exports
• Australia’s largest export market is Japan (38.5%) (***)
• In 2009 Australia exported 64% of its total beef and veal production over 100 countries (***)
• The value of total beef exports in 2009 was $4.3b (**)
• The value of Australia’s live cattle exports in 2009 was $666m (**)
• The beef industry contributes 17% to total Australian farm exports (the most valuable in 2008-09)
All figures based on MLA/DAFF/ABS/ABARE 2008-09 unless otherwise stated.
* - ABS Agricultural commodities - figures for 30 June 2009
** - latest available ABS data - figures for calendar year 2009
*** - latest available DAFF data - figures for calendar year 2009
Per capita consumption figures from MLA cattle industry projections 2010.
